Thanks to emissions regulations, the European-spec C8 Z06 is significantly slower than its American sibling.
There’s no doubt how capable the Chevy Corvette Z06 is. As far as sports cars go, the C8 Z06 is up there with some of the best in the industry. In fact, the new-generation Z06 is so good that it’s even giving the supercar sector a boost, giving Ferraris and McLarens a run for their money.
The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is truly a performance bargain. However, that may not happen with widely sold versions. For example, a base 2023 Corvette C8 has an MSRP of $64,500 in the US. However, prices in the EU are too high. Starting price for a base Stingray Coupe is 99,650 Euros in France ($105,360 at current exchange rates). For example, in the UK, a Corvette C8 starts at £81,700 (about $97,917).
But unlike America, the base Corvette sold in Europe comes fully equipped (with the standard Z51 package). We previously compared the US-spec Corvette C8 with its UK counterpart. Not only is there a difference in price, but the car models also differ in output. That difference is also clearly shown in the new C8 Corvette Z06 according to European standards. Here’s a closer look.
The Corvette Z06 Euro-Spec C8 makes significantly less horsepower
Motorsport Magazine has shared a YouTube video that shows us a real-life image of a European-spec Z06 along with a short clip of its acceleration. But before we go further, here are the quick specs. The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 sold in the US has a capacity of 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. However, the 5.5L naturally aspirated V8 in Europe makes much less. The widely available C8 Z06 has 636 horsepower and 439 pound-feet of torque.
2023 Chevy Corvette C8 Z06 2-door sports car coming soonVia: General Motors
Why are the outputs different, you ask? The European Union is quite strict about emissions. According to the latest standards, all gasoline cars sold (with direct injection) in Europe must have particulate filters.
Like the DPF you find in a diesel engine. GPF is designed to remove particulate matter from exhaust gases. Gasoline filters are especially common in direct injection cars because they generate more particulate matter than port fuel injection engines.
Chevy also redesigned the Z06’s exhaust system. If you have a keen eye, you will notice that the European-spec Z06 has the regular C8’s exhaust layout compared to the quad exhaust in the middle. Again, this is to comply with EU sound and pollution regulations.
Corvette C8 Z06 Euro-spec Vs US-spec: Do the changes affect performance? 2023-Chevrolet-Corvette-Z06-003 (1)Via: Chevrolet
While we don’t have a spec sheet to compare, Motorsport Magazine’s video provides some important information. While the video doesn’t go into detailed performance stats, they do mention weight. Additionally, the overdrive is combined with a shot of the instrument cluster, allowing us to put on our thinking hats and do a bit of forensic analysis.
It’s worth pointing out that we’re not certain about the outside and road surface temperatures the test vehicle was subjected to. It seems like the conditions aren’t ideal for a real wheel-drive sports car. However, from the video, it seems that the European version of the Z06 reaches 100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds. We know that the US-spec 2023 C8 Z06 is capable of 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds.
2023-Chevrolet-Corvette-Z06-002Via Chevrolet Media This results in a noticeable difference in performance, highlighting the drop in power. Although, as we mentioned, this is not a definite conclusion. Our estimates may be proven wrong. However, to be more clear, we will have to wait for Chevrolet Europe to announce official figures.
According to Chevrolet, a US-spec 2023 C8 Z06 (with the Z07 package and carbon wheels) weighs 3,434 pounds dry. But the video shows the European spec weighs 1,678 kg (about 3,700 pounds). We assume this is the wet weight. However, the weight difference between the two is negligible, as the US-spec C8 Z06 has a wet weight of nearly 3,650 pounds.
How much will the Chevy C8 Corvette Z06 cost in Europe? Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 2023Via: Chevrolet
Chevrolet Europe has not yet revealed pricing details for the 2023 Corvette Z06. However, according to the US pricing strategy, we see that the Corvette Z06 costs about 1.65 times the price of a basic C8 Stingray is 64,500 USD. In other words, the $106,000 Corvette Z06 costs $42,000 (about 65%) more than the regular C8. Apply that to EU pricing and we estimate the base Corvette C8 Z06 to start at around 164,000 euros or £135,000 (over $160,000) in Europe and the UK respectively.
Everything else between the US and EU spec Corvette Z06 is pretty much the same. Unlike the regular C8, the 2023 Z06 has been tested and developed to deliver a more assured track experience. The engineers at Chevrolet have made sure to include all the right elements to deliver an engaging and engaging drive around any track or road.
